A NEW series of yacht races starting in Sydney and culminating in a five-day regatta off the Gold Coast next January is the first stage of a new long-term strategy to make the Gold Coast a world-class sailing centre.
The first of these yachting series was announced by Gold Coast Mayor, Ron Clarke, on behalf of the Gold Coast’s Southport Yacht Club and Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club.
Cr Clarke says the new circuit could attract more yachts to the Gold Coast than the Sydney to Hobart race fleet. He added that the Australian and international yachting scene had been recognised as an untapped opportunity for the Gold Coast, and the good news was that most, if not all the infrastructure needed to host the racing already existed.
The circuit will start with Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club’s well-established Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Race on January 2. That will be followed by a new 150 nautical mile coastal sprint, The Coffs to Paradise Race, starting on January 7 and then on January 10 the other new event, The Sail Paradise Series, will be contested over five days on short courses set just off the surf-line of the Gold Coast’s beaches.
Gold Coast Tourism CEO, Martin Winter says GCT has great faith in the potential of yachting on the Gold Coast.
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